This is driving me mad, because I've searched and searched for a solution to this and can't find it. I know how to fix this in XP, but the fix won't work in Vista. This is my laptop I'm talking about here (HP Pavilion dv6700 w\ Vista Home Premium SP2). The problem started after download Windows updates in early August and happened prior to applying SP2, so I don't think that's the issue.
When I open a media file, let's say an MP3, the file begins to play, but the WMP window never appears. I can control the playback with the media keys on my keyboard, and wmplayer.exe appears in the processes list, but the WMP window never opens and there's no task bar button for it. If I open WMP through its shortcut first, it opens fine. However, when the WMP window is open and I close it (either through the X button in the corner or File menu -> Exit) the WMP window closes, but playback doesn't stop and the process continues to appear in the processes list until I select it and choose 'End Process', then the playback will stop and the process will end.
I tried downloading
what Microsoft calls "the latest version" on their website of WMP11, but when I go to install it, I get "There is a more recent version of Windows Media Player (11.0.6002.18065) already installed on your computer. It is not possible to use an older installation package (11.0.5721.5146) to install files or to repair your current version of the Player."
I saw it recommended somewhere on the Microsoft forums to use SFC /SCANNOW to fix issues with WMP in Vista, but SFC came back saying nothing was wrong.
Also, and this may be unrelated, about 1 in 3 times when I minimize WMP to the task bar, it causes Windows Explorer to crash and reset. According to
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944883, I've downloaded and installed the patch, so I'll see if that fixes that.
-=EDIT=-
Nevermind about that patch. Same issue, but says the patch doesn't apply to my system. It's for 11.0.6000.6500.
